65850.52.
(a) For purposes of this section:(1) “Energy Commission” means the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.
(2) “Energy storage system” means commercially available technology, located behind a customer’s utility meter, that is capable of absorbing electricity generated from a colocated electricity generator or from the electric grid, storing it for a period of time, and thereafter discharging it to meet the energy or power needs of the host customer or for export.
(3) “Photovoltaic solar energy system” means any of the following:
(A) A solar collector or other solar energy device the primary purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation.
(B) Any of the following structural design features:
(i) Solar racking, solar mounting, solar trackers, solar carports, solar shade structures, solar awnings, solar canopies, and solar patio covers, regardless of whether the feature is on the ground or on a structure.
(ii) A design feature the primary purpose of which is to provide for the collection, storage, and distribution of solar energy for electricity generation.
(iii) A photovoltaic device or technology that is integrated into a building, including, but not limited to, photovoltaic windows, siding, and
roofing shingles or tiles.
(4) “Residential photovoltaic solar energy system” is a photovoltaic solar energy system that is installed on a single family dwelling.
(5) “SolarAPP+” means the most recent version of a web-based portal, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, United States Department of Energy, that automates plan review, produces code-compliant approvals, and issues permits for residential photovoltaic solar energy systems and energy storage systems paired with residential photovoltaic solar energy systems.
(b) (1) Pursuant to the compliance schedule in paragraph (2), a city, county, or city and county, shall implement an online, automated permitting platform, such as SolarAPP+, that verifies code compliance and instantaneously issues permits for a residential
photovoltaic solar energy system and an energy storage system paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system, and consistent with the system parameters and configurations, including an inspection checklist, such as used by SolarAPP+. Consistent with the same compliance schedule, a city, county, or city and county shall amend its ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 65850.5 to authorize a residential solar energy system and an energy storage system to use the online, automated permitting platform.
(2) (A) A city or county with a population of less than 10,000 is exempt from paragraph (1).
(B) A city or county with a population of 10,001 – 50,000, inclusive shall satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) no later than September 30, 2023.
(C) A city, county, or
city and county, with a population of greater than 50,000 shall satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) no later than September 30, 2022.
(c) A city, county, city and county, or fire district shall provide as an option remote inspections by real-time or recorded video or photo for a residential photovoltaic solar energy system and battery storage systems paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system. These inspections or reinspections may be scheduled electronically via email, the online, automated permitting platform pursuant to subdivision (b), or other electronic means. Remote inspections shall be offered at no greater cost, and shall be available with no greater delay, than in-person inspections.
(d) The Energy Commission may provide technical assistance and grant funding to city, county, or city and county, in order to support the implementation of online,
automated permitting for a residential photovoltaic solar energy system and an energy storage system paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system, the implementation of remote inspections for a residential photovoltaic solar energy system and an energy storage system paired with a residential photovoltaic solar energy system, and compliance with the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and with subdivision (c) in a timely manner.
(1) The Energy Commission shall develop grant guidelines and other requirements in a public process by July 1, 2022.
(2) The Energy Commission shall prioritize processing grant applications from local jurisdictions serving low-income communities, disadvantaged communities as defined by the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool, also known as CalEnviroScreen 3.0, or those containing high fire-threat
districts as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 3280 of the Public Utilities Code.
(3) The Public Utilities Commission shall require Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas and Electric Company to repurpose twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) of funds supporting the New Solar Homes Partnership Program, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 2851 of the Public Utilities Code, for providing technical assistance and grant funding and to pay the administrative costs of the Energy Commission. Notwithstanding subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 2851 of the Public Utilities Code, these funds may be disbursed after December 31, 2021.
(e) A city, county, city and county, or a fire district shall report to the Energy Commission when it is in compliance with subdivisions (b) and (c).
(f) The Energy Commission shall set guidelines for cities and counties to report to the commission on the number of permits issued for residential photovoltaic solar energy systems and the relevant characteristics of those systems. A city, county, or city and county shall report annually to the Energy Commission pursuant to those guidelines within a year of implementing the automated solar permitting system pursuant to subdivision (b).
(g) (1) A city, county, or city and county that is not in compliance with Section 65850.5 or 66015 is not eligible to receive the funding available pursuant to subdivision (d). A city, county, or city and county shall certify its compliance with Section 65850.5 or 66015 when applying for funds from a state-sponsored or state-administered grant or loan program.
(2) A city, county, or city and county that is not in compliance with subdivisions (b) and (c) is not eligible to receive funds from a state-sponsored or state-administered solar or energy storage grant or loan program, other than the funding available in subdivision (d). A city, county, or city and county shall certify its compliance with the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c) when applying for funds from a state-sponsored or state-administered grant or loan program.